Lock device for vending machine or the like



Jan. 24, 1967 E. M. SPENCER LOCK DEVICE FOR VENDING MACHNE OR THE LIKE Filed July 8, 1964 FIV-Q4,

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F155 fig United States Patent O 3,299,678 LOCK DEVICE EUR VENDING MACHINE OR THE LIKE Elbert M. Spencer, Wildwood, Ill., assigner to Illinois Lock Co., a corporation of Illinois Filed .Iuly 8, 1964, Ser. No. 380,999 1 Claim. (Cl. 70-208) This invention relates to locking devices and more particularly, to a draw lock for a vending machine or similar cabinet-like device.

Draw locks are commonly used on refrigerated cabinets which possess a substantial amount of gasket material about the door. These locks are'most ideal in Vthat the threading of the shaft member into a mating receptacle in the cabinet provides the necessary torque for drawing the door tightly against the cabinet to sufficiently compress the gasket material while at the same time providing a structure wherein a key operated lock cylinder may be provided to lock the device in the closed position and prevent access to the interior thereof.

A limitation of presently known draw locks utilizing a locking element having a threaded shaft is that when the shaft has been threaded tightly into the mating nut provided in the cabinet to adequately seal the cabinet door to the body of the cabinet, the remaining portion of the locked mechanism may not be in alignment with other portions thereof to permit the device to be locked at the position of optimum door closure. A more particular limitation has been that such hitherto known locking devices `have not been constructed in such a manner as to provide for the complete disconnection between the operating handle and the threaded shaft in the locking position of the device. Such a `complete disconnection provides a more tamper-proof lock rendering entrance to the interior of the cabinet impossible without the proper means, namely a key.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a new and improved draw type locking device for vending machines or the like.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a new and improved draw type locking means for a vending machine or the like having means permitting the device to be locked in any selected position of threading of the draw shaft into the mating nut on the cabinet body.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved draw type locking means for a vending machine or the like wherein the draw shaft may be completely disconnected from the remainder of the structure and remain disconnected during locking of the device.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved draw type lock for a vending machine or the like having a threaded draw shaft for tightening into a cooperating nut in the body of the vending machine and being provided with a locking handle disconnected from the draw shaft with a lost motion connection and having means normally urging the handle and shaft into connection and a lock for locking the same out of connection with each other so that upon release of the lock the handle and shaft may be brought into engagement for turning of the shaft from the exterior of the lock and upon arriving at the desired point of threaded engagement or disengagement from the mating nut, the

locking handle may be moved relative to the draw shaft to completely disconnect the two and lock the device at the selected position without interfering with the degree of threaded engagement between the draw shaft and the nut.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a partially broken section view of the locking device of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front view of the locking device showing the lock assembly in an unlocked position in connection with the draw shaft;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view of the lock tumbler used in the locking device of this invention;

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view of the front plate of the housing in which the handle member is positioned;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the shank of the handle member;

FIGURE 6 is a section view of the handle member of the lock of this invention;

FIGURE 7 is a front elevational View of the handle member of this invention with the lock tumbler removed;

FIGURE 8 is a broken view of the draw shaft used in the locking device of this invention; and

FIGURE 9 is an end elevational view of the draw shaft shown in FIGURE 8.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail an embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claim.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIGURE 1 there is shown the locking device 10 of this invention. The locking device 10 includes a generally T-shaped housing 12 which is provided with an elongate shaft 14 extending therefrom. The shaft 14 has a threaded end 14a for engagement with a mating nut 15 which may be positioned in the interior of a cabinet. The housing is provided with suitable means such as openings 16 for receiving fastening devices, such as screws 16a, for securing the housing to the door 17 of a cabinet. The sealing of the cabinet door to the body is accomplished by threading the stud 14 into the nut 15 secured to the interior of the cabinet. The housing is provided with a generally T-shaped handle which is nested within the housing and has a generally flat, upright face 18a and an inwardly projecting elongate shank or sleeve 18b which is received in the hollow interior 19 of the neck 12a of the housing.

A lock cylinder 20 is positioned in the interior of the handle shank 18b and is provided with a keyway 21 in the front face 21a thereof which is received in an opening 2lb in the front face of the handle. The cylinder is further provided with a spring biased key operable upstanding tongue 22 which projects through the tongue opening 23a in the handle shank and one of the tongue openings 23b in the housing neck to lock the handle relative to the housing in the position shown in full outline in FIGURE l. The front face 12a of the housing is suitably dished out to accommodate the configuration of the handle face in such a manner as to present a substantially smooth appearance when the device is in locked position.

The interior end of the handle shank is partially enclosed with a cap 24 having an opening 24a and being provided with notches 24b on the interior side of the cap. The housing is similarly provided with a cap 26 at the end of the neck having an opening 26a in alignment with the handle shank opening 24a to receive the shaft 14. A spring 28 is interposed between the exterior of the end cap 24 of the handle shank and the interior of the end cap 26 of the housing to normally urge the handle longitudinally relative to the shaft and housing toward an open position shown in dotted outline in FIGURE 1. The handle is maintained in the closed position by the locking tongue on the lock cylinder.

The shaft 14 is provided with retainer rings 30 which are positioned about the shaft on either side of the end cap 26 of the housing to hold the shaft against substantial longitudinal movement relative to the housing. The outer dimension of the shaft is slightly smaller than the inner dimension of the opening 26a so that the shaft is freely rotatable relative to the housing. A washer 32 abuts the interior of the cap 26 between the retainer ring to facilitate the rotatable relation between the shaft and the housing. A cross-pin 34 is loosely positioned generally transversely to the length of the shaft at its inner end and is substantially freely movable relative to the shaft.

When the lock tongue 22 is retracted by means of a key, the force of the spring 2S pushing the handle may move the handle longitudinally relative to the shaft 14 and the housing 12 to the position shown in dotted outline in FIGURE 1 where the face of the handle may be grasped. This also positions the end cap 24 of the handle adjacent the end of the shaft 14 so that the pin 34 may be engaged with the notches 24h in the interior of the end cap tol connect the shaft 14 to the handle 18 for rotation therewith. The relative looseness of the cross-pin in the shaft facilitates the lodging of the pin in the notches. When the lock is in such a position, as the handle 18 is turned, the shaft will also be turned to thread the shaft relative to the nut 15. This threading will permit the door to which the housing is attached to be sealed or opened depending upon which movement is imparted to the handle. Once the desired degree of threaded movement has been reached, as for example, when the shank has been threaded into the nut a sufficient distance to tightly position the door against the body of a cabinet, the handle and shaft may be disconnected by simply pushing the handle against the spring toward the interior of the housing to a point where the notches are laterally spaced from the pin 34. At such a point there is a complete disconnect between the handle and the shaft.

To insure that when the handle member is reinserted into the housing the tongue 22 will be aligned with one of the openings 2311 in the housing, guiding means are provided on the handle and the housing. This guiding means includes a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves which are formed in the interior of the housing and extend to the front face 12a thereof. For mating with these grooves, the exterior of the handle is provided with a plurality of peripherally disposed ribs 42. The mating ribs and grooves are so formed that the handle may be inserted in the housing in only those positions where the tongue will be in registry with one of the housing openings 23h. In the embodiment shown, the two openings 2311 Iare 180 apart and the two positions in which the handle may be inserted in the housing are substantially 180 apart. The ribs extend from the inside of the handle face to a point which is short of the point to which the handle shank must be moved to disconnect the handle from the shaft. After the shaft 14 has been threaded to the desired position, and the handle has been moved longitudinally relative to the shaft to disconnect the shaft pin from the handle notches, the handle may be freely rotated to a position where the ribs thereof are in alignment with the grooves in the shank without disturbing the shaft 14. Once the position of alignment has been reached, the handle may be moved axially toward the interior of the shank in opposition to spring 28 to the position shown in FIGURE 1 Where the lock mechanism may be actuated by a suitable key to move the tongue 22 through the opening 23a in the handle shank and one of the openings 23b in the housing body. Thus, the device will be in a fully locked position with the shaft 14 essentially a freely rotatable member relative to the housing. Only when the handle is moved longitudinally to bring the pin and notches into engagement can the shaft be turned. Since the housing is secured to the cabinet door by means which are covered by the face of the handle, and since the lock holds the handle against longitudinal movement, only one having a key to unlock the handle may gain access to the interior and bring the shaft and handle into operable engagement. n

An added feature of this invention is that the individual lock cylinders are removable. In those instances where route men who service vending machines may have resigned or whose actions may have become suspect, the individual cylinders may be replaced without necessitating the complete removal of the locking unit. To accomplish this, the device is unlocked so that the handle is essentially in the position shown in dotted outline in FIG- URE 1 which positions the top of the tongue 22 slightly to the exterior of the face 12a.v The spring biased tongue may be depressed below the opening 23a so that the cylinder 20 may be moved axially relative to the interior of the shank and withdrawn therefrom. The new lock cylinder may be easily inserted in place of the old cylinder so that only those personnel having keys to the new tumbler will be able to gain access to the interior of the cabinet.

I claim:

A draw lock device for securing a cabinet door to a cabinet, comprising: a lock housing secured to said cabinet door and having a cylindrical neck portion; a shaft extending through the neck portion of said lock housing and projecting from the door toward the interior of said cabinet, said shaft being mounted in said neck portion for rotation relative to said housing; a handle mounted in said housing by means permitting longitudinal movement of said handle relative to the housing and the shaft from a position wherein said shaft and handle are conjointly rotatable relative to the housing to a position wherein said handle is free to rotate relative to said housing and said shaft; a pin loosely positioned in said shaft generally transverse to the axis thereof, said handle mounting means including a sleeve on said handle telescopically received within the said housing over said shaft, a plurality of radial and cir-cumferentially spaced slots including slots transverse to each other at the distal end of said sleeve each for closely receiving said loosely positioned pin at a plurality of different rotationally indexed connecting positions to provide easy connection with said shaft at each connecting position for said shaft and handle; a spring urging said handle longitudinally of said housing and relative to said shaft for connecting the handle with Vsaid shaft at any of said connecting positions for rotation of said shaft and handle relative to said housing, said slots receiving said `Ipin in each position and blocking said handle from free rotation in either direction relative to said shaft; means for securing said handle in said housing against rotation relative to said housing and in complete disconnection from said shaft; and means operable after disconnection of said handle relative to said shaft for guiding said handle into locking engagement in said housing without moving said shaft, said means including a plurality of generally longitudinally 5 6 extending slots in said housing bore and a plurality of References Cited by the Examiner generally longitudinally extending ribs on said handle UNTTED STATES PATENTS sleeve said ribs being spaced from said housing slots 548,418 10/1895 Ball 70-223 when said shaft and handle are 1n operable engagement 1,868,580 7/1932 McKinney 70 208 a distance greater than movement of said handle longi- 5 2,547,630 4/1951 rndinnuy of Said housing and said shaft to disconnect 3,089,330 5/1963 ilrl:ofg said handle from said shaft so that, after said discon- 3,111,833 11/1963 Deitmer 70 208 X necting movement of said handle, said handle may be 3,122,012 2/1964 Christopher 70 208 X rotated relative t0 said housing and said shaft to align 3,222,899 12/1965 Bodoh et aL 70 140 said ribs with said housing slots to permit axial insertion 10 0f said handle into said housing. BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner. 

